Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-31

DR.. Chambers county school superin-
tendents bill is very important legisla'
tive measure and it went through the
House Monday in q way highly crafty
ing to its sponsor, by the unanimous vote
of all the 20 members present. 1t pro-
vides for radical change of the public
school system that has been long urged,
and which possesses evident merit enough |
to command the support il received yes
tetday. The bill yacates the Offices of |
State superintendent and assistant super
intendent Of public schools on the expi-
ration of the terms Of the present incum-
bents, some time next month, and sub
stitutes therefore q superintendent for
each county, who shall engage in no other
business, but shall devote his whole time
to the supervision of education in his
county, shall pay at least two visits yearly
TO each school under his jurisdiction
not touch and.go visits but genuine
inspections of not less than two hours
duration-who shall look after the
efficiency of teachers and who shall re-
ceive salary of $1,000 per annum.
These commissioners are to be appointed
by the governor and are to hold Office for
one year. II is evident that the success
of the new plan, provided it becomes a
law, will depend almost wholly upon the
competency and character of the APP
pointees. Should each county be fcrtu-
nate enough to secure the services of 9
first-clsss man, one competent to be
teacher of teachers, willing to give hi
entire attention to the work of improving
the schools under his charge, the
workings of the new system can hardly
but prove in the highest degree satisfac
tory.
Another feature of DR.. Chandeliers bill
contemplates taking the State entirely
out of the business of furnishing text
books for the schools. Figures submitted
show that this has been a losing opera
ton. During the past three years tn
amount of S2l, 652. 80 has been expended
for school. books, while the receipts fror
the sale IF sqch books f99ts uf G9l
Slt, $50 saS ng an ruarent denet g
SO r. ~. [-.t NJ fnls .a&r@
doubtedly represented by unsold book
remaining in the various depositorie
designated by the superintendent pa
is represented by the depreciation in Walt
of books which have become shop wor
or otherwise damaged; a considerab
part must assuredly be set down as abs
lutely lost through various channels an
causes. DR.. ChRndlers estimate is til
about one-fourth Of the deficit may
realized, leaving the State loser
$1,000 to $4,000 by three years Of boz
selling. The present superintendent
authorized to collect and turn over
much Of this SO, 5O2.29 deficit as
can, and the schools are to look hereaft
70 private booksellers for their supplig
Another feature is the requirement
all teachers physically able to do 50
attend the annual institutes Of "a,
county and the setting apart o. 500 fro
the school fund of each county to lsfrt
the expenses of holding such institute
This is the same financial provision
contained in the existing law. The
seems to be room for improvement Lee
to the extent Of at least doubling this q
preparation. 1t is provided that the nt
system shall not apply to schools und
the management Of any incorporat
Board Of Education, unless upon the
quest of such incorporated body.